MPSSAA State Championship Previews

May 25, 2026
Cole Ledger
Director of Operations, Prep Baseball MD/DE

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After months of anticipation and another intense rain postponement, we have finally reached state championship day. All four classes descend upon Ripken Stadium in Aberdeen for the MPSSAA State Championships, ranging from Class 1A to 4A. Each team has built its own journey, whether it got hot in the playoffs and is looking to cap off an unprecedented playoff run, or it has dominated the season since opening day, etching its name as a feared squad for years to come.

Ahead of the first game at 10:00 AM, I will be sharing my thoughts on all four matchups in the order they will be played this afternoon. Good luck to all eight participating teams, and with the rain allowing for extra rest, we expect all teams to be at their very best, putting their talent on full display.

1A State Championship

#1 Patterson Mill vs #3 Liberty 10:00 AM Ripken Stadium

Game Preview: Two of the top teams across Class 1A all season long, both teams are looking to add to their record books in their own respective ways. For Patterson Mill, this is their 4th all-time appearance in the state championship, but they have never hoisted the trophy. This is their second appearance in three seasons, after falling to Brunswick in 2024. For Liberty, they have never lost in the state championship, holding an undefeated 2-0 record with their last state title appearance coming over two decades ago, back in 2004.

Both teams have had their respective roadblocks on their way to this game; however, both come off dominating victories in the state semifinals, Patterson Mill run-ruling Patuxent, while Liberty tossed a complete-game shutout against Perryville. After Liberty cruised through one of the easiest regions in the state, their biggest game was their matchup with Smithsburg in the state quarterfinals, which lasted 10 innings and ended with Liberty walking it off. Patterson Mill has certainly had their fair share of heart attacks, outlasting Harford Tech in the region finals in a fourteen-inning affair before turning around in the state quarterfinals and overcoming a two-run deficit in the seventh to walk things off again.

Keys to Victory:

Battle of the offenses. Both Liberty and Patterson Mill are built behind high-powered offenses with seniors leading the way at the top of the order. Both arms (projected Logan Garey and Peter Weber) will have their work cut out for them, attempting to keep runners off base and eliminating any game-changing extra base hits. Patterson Mill's offense has seemed to get better with each game they've played in the playoffs, while Liberty hasn't been as explosive but hasn't needed to be, thanks to the pitching staff stepping up.
Liberty's two-headed pitching staff. With the extra time from the rain, both Logan Garey and Carter Shanks are available, giving Liberty a clear advantage on the pitching side of the game. Usage will be one thing to monitor, especially given the type of leash the starter will have. Do they hold off on making sudden changes in big moments, or do they look to throw off hitters with a different look?
Production from the bottom of the Huskies' lineup. Patterson Mill can swing it one through nine. The biggest game-changer, especially as the game progresses, is getting back to the top of the lineup with runners on base. Whether it's been walks or hits, they've done well in this department over the course of the playoffs, allowing the top of the order (Logan Scheeler, Keith Reedy, Tre McInnes, and Brycen Hunter) to combine for 17 RBIs over the last three games. This was also how they earned back-to-back walk-off wins. The top of the order came up with runners on and capitalized on the situation.
Limiting free passes throughout the game. Compared to the regular season, this has been one of the biggest differences for the Patterson Mill pitching staff. They have surrendered more walks, which has almost come back to bite them in the playoffs against teams not regarded for having deep offensive talent outside of Patuxent. Against a Liberty squad that can drop big innings in a split second, Patterson Mill needs to limit the walks. With the Huskies having their whole staff as well, it'll be interesting to see how they utilize all three of their top guys.

3A State Championship

#1 Stephen Decatur vs #2 Sherwood 12:30 PM Ripken Stadium

Game Preview: Another year, another chance for Sherwood to build on the legacy they've built across public school baseball in the state of Maryland, looking to win their fifth state title in six seasons (7th in school history), and they'll have to face the squad that may have had the most determination of anyone to get to this point. Their opponent, Stephen Decatur, who makes the three-hour trip to Aberdeen for their first state championship appearance in school history, is finally getting over the hump after years of heartbreak, having lost multiple times in the state semifinals despite coming into the season with the most talented roster in the state. Decatur was the only team in Maryland (public or private) to hold an undefeated record through the regular season, still sitting at 23-0 headed into this game, giving this highly anticipated matchup the headline "The Undefeated vs The Dynasty".

Both teams handled business throughout the playoffs, with relatively simple contests and little interference until the state semifinals, where both teams emerged victorious in one-run affairs. Sherwood walked off Chopticon in extra innings on a bases-loaded walk, while Decatur took an early 3-0 lead (which they've done each time in the semifinals), but was actually able to hold onto the lead and got a lights-out performance from their pitching staff. Of all four matchups, this one is likely regarded as the most "talent vs talent". Although Sherwood has to be the favorite due to their 25-1 postseason record since 2021, Decatur is a hungry squad with all this built-up energy from years past to draw on in this game. We've only seen this matchup once (Decatur defeated Sherwood 2-1 in the 2025 regular season), but the teams look very different, though their identities remain the same.

Keys to Victory:

Decatur needs to control the tempo early, don't play Sherwood's game. Sherwood has been extremely successful in the playoffs this decade because they often force teams to play their brand of baseball, which no public school team in the state has ever replicated well enough to win. Sherwood is built on pace and superb defense, where Decatur has explosive tendencies on offense and needs to use it to their advantage early in this game. Decatur does not want to get sucked into playing Sherwood baseball.
Sherwood pitchers; do what they do best. Throw strikes, limit walks. They are 25-1 in the playoffs this decade for a reason. They have lived on this mindset, and it has not failed them once. The only time they lost: they faced the king of limiting walks, Mr. Henry Zatkowski. Outside of that, this game plan has never put them at a disadvantage and shouldn't in this game.
Production from Decatur's bottom half of the lineup. One thing that propelled Decatur to its victory against Chesapeake was the production it received from the bottom half of the lineup. In their first time through, the six (BB) and eight (infield 1B) hitters both reached base, allowing the top of the lineup to provide. This was followed by hits from Landon Daniel, Spencer Gaylor, and Johnny Hobgood, giving them a 3-0 lead, and they never looked back. Decatur's offense produces best when hitters 1 through 4 come to the plate with runners on.
Sherwood's offense needs to be prepared for a change in pace. Throughout their playoff run, they haven't faced an offense with the explosiveness Decatur has. This has allowed the offense to take more of a backseat while letting the pitching and defense prevail (which is what Sherwood has done for years). If Decatur comes out of the gate hot, Sherwood's offense will need to be ready to respond. They can continue to play their brand, which is to pile up singles and let the middle of the order add power upside, but I would say their offense needs to be more consistent than it has in recent games.
Decatur's offensive adjustment is key. The script changes completely when moving from Chesapeake's pitching staff to Sherwood's. Chesapeake, you needed to get your foot down and be prepared for high-velocity play, with the objective of drawing walks and putting the ball in play to allow the Cougars' defense to make mistakes. Against Sherwood, that mindset doesn't work. Sherwood doesn't blow anyone away, but they throw strikes among the best of them with high-level defense across the field. Finding consistent barrels and maximizing offensive output when the bat is in your hands is the key. Don't wait for them to allow walks or make errors, because those occur slim to none with this team.
Baserunners will be at a premium: take advantage. Two of the top defensive catchers across the state will be on display during this game. Sherwood's Calum Jagannathan and Decatur's Brandon Nadeau have some of the best abilities behind the plate, making it more difficult for both squads to swipe bases. Sherwood knows this, as Nadeau nabbed two runners in their matchup last year. For Coach Ferro and Coach Davis, finding the opportunity to gain 90 feet will be a major talking point. Decatur has been known for speed in years past, and some of them are still on the roster to this day.
Decatur's situational pitching. Kyle Springle was magnificent in the state semifinals. He'll get the ball once again, and it'll be hard to beat him if he comes out with the stuff he put on display last week. The big question looms once again: where does the ball go after Springle? Do they go with an adjustment in looks (Bracizewski), do they go with the fresh secret weapon (Hobgood), or do they go with the banged-up veteran who has tons of playoff pitching experience (Loring)? Coach Ferro will have his hands full with the decision.

2A State Championship

#2 Hereford vs #5 Kent Island 3:30 PM Ripken Stadium

Game Preview: Of all four matchups, this would've probably been listed as the biggest shocker back in the preseason if someone told you three months later that these two would meet in the state championship. Hereford returns to the state championship for the first time in over 50 years, last appearing back in 1975, and is looking to win their first state title in school history. Kent Island, on the other hand, looks to extend its undefeated record in state titles (currently 1-0), making its second-ever appearance and first since 2008, when it won at Ripken Stadium on a walk-off. These two possess very different identities and rosters, making this game one of the more intriguing on the docket.

Starting with Hereford, it has felt like over the last four seasons they've been building something special, and now with all the pieces in place, their extremely senior-heavy roster has finally made it to the big dance. Let's take a minute to go back down memory lane and look at the Bulls over the last four years. Back as freshmen in 2023, Hereford (13-10) lost in the region championship. As sophomores in 2024, the Bulls (14-10) won their region and lost in the state quarterfinals. Last year, as juniors in 2025, Hereford (15-8) lost in the semifinals to the eventual champion. And finally, as seniors here in 2026, they are 20-2 and have reached the title game. It's an impressive story for one of Baltimore County's powerhouses.

For Kent Island, many didn't expect them to be here whatsoever. After a coaching change following the 2025 season, Coach Cheney takes over the program, looking to establish a new identity for the Bucs, and I think it's safe to say now that he's done just that. In a season where only two seniors have logged significant and meaningful innings, Kent Island showed resiliency with regular-season wins over some of the conference's recent powerhouses before translating into a postseason run that has seen some nailbiters (vs Glenelg in the state quarterfinals) and some impressive blowouts (vs CM Wright in the state semifinals). With such a young roster, it's hard not to compare them to a fellow Bayside squad, Saint Michaels, who virtually did the same thing last year, making the state title with major contributors being underclassmen.

Keys to Victory:

Kent Island's pitching vs Hereford's offense. Hereford probably possessed the best offense in Class 2A this season, making the Bucs' pitching staff the clear key to this game. With both of their top starters available (Hayden Austin & Derek Grossi), I'd expect both of them to throw behind one another in this game. The question is: which one starts? My money would be on Austin with Grossi as a shutdown option out of the bullpen. Kent Island will need to limit Hereford's offense to some degree to ensure this game doesn't get away from them early.
Metz brothers provide production once again. Daniel and Kreis Metz have been the leaders of this Hereford team all spring long, and don't expect that to change in the state title game. The offense and their production often go hand in hand, making their ability to get on base and provide loud explosiveness a major talking point heading into the afternoon.
Kent Island: limit the mistakes. This Hereford offense may not produce in every inning, but one thing they always seem to do is produce with runners in scoring position. Take the semifinals, for example: Hereford didn't have much going offensively until they loaded the bases in the fifth. Two batters later (Gardner 3B, Greenwood 3B), and it's a four-run swing in favor of Hereford, and it never looked back. If you get beaten with the bats, that's one thing. Don't give them runners via walks and/or errors, as that'll come back to bite them.
Aiden Ciurca, mix speeds and play clean baseball. Kent Island has shown the ability to hit the fastball all season long, and with the production of Jack and Derek Grossi looming, I'd be hesitant to give them the opportunity to get their timing down. Attack hitters early, but mix speed and location to keep hitters guessing. With a younger lineup, they have the talent to make adjustments, but they may do so at a slower rate than an experienced team. Take advantage of that if it's there.
Finally, Kent Island underclassmen need to deliver one more time. The Bucs have been gifted with some truly special. Underclassmen offensive pieces who produce when the lights shine the brightest. The question entering the playoffs was how the pressure would challenge this team or change their offensive ceiling. It hasn't. This team has hit just as well in the playoffs as in the regular season, and we've seen freshman and sophomores step up in big moments, flashing back to the Glenelg game.

4A State Championship

#2 Dulaney vs #4 Urbana 6:30 PM Ripken Stadium

Game Preview: Who would've thought that a three-way coin flip would ultimately mean something in the end? Because Dulaney won that coin flip two weeks ago, the Lions will not only be the "home" team but also much closer to the championship location. The best part about this game? Regardless of the outcome, one of these programs will win their school their first-ever baseball state championship. For Dulaney, this is their first appearance in 25 years, losing in back-to-back state title games in 2000 & 2001. And for Urbana, they were in this situation just over 365 days ago, losing in the state title on a walk-off. This is their third appearance in the last four seasons (3rd all-time as well), both on the losing end to MoCo powerhouses Sherwood and WJ.

Urbana certainly comes in as the clear favorite. They have a more experienced roster with talent in every aspect of the game. They hold the deeper pitching staff and the more explosive offense. But Dulaney doesn't fall far behind the Hawks in a majority of these categories, and with the assistance from Mother Nature, they are locked and fully loaded for tomorrow's nightcap game under the Ripken lights.

Keys to Victory:

Dulaney: Biggest winner from the rain delay. With Evan Zarroli being pulled early in the state semifinals, he was always going to be ready for this game. Dulaney, on the other hand, was forced to run Drew Ranck to his pitch limit in order to win against Walt Whitman. With the game being delayed an extra three days, Drew Ranck is now available and will get the start in this game, putting two flamethrowers against one another who can both run it into the low-90s.
Does Evan Zarroli have one more playoff performance in him? In the last two years, Evan Zarroli has played his best baseball in the playoffs, and that was the case this year. He provided multiple scoreless frames in the semifinals against Broadneck that allowed them to jump out to a 5-0 lead and never turn back. Can he finally get them over the hump? Consistency has always been the question for Zarroli, but if he can control the zone, allow the secondary mix to excel, and work at his own pace... that should be enough to get the job done.
For Dulaney, keep it low scoring. I think if this game is going to be close, it'll need to be a low-scoring affair. If it turns into a shootout, Urbana's deep and talented lineup will likely be too much for a Dulaney team that may run into some trouble if they have to burn through a significant amount of arms early. Keeping the game low-scoring will allow them to take advantage of opportunities, string together hits, and run up pitch counts on the offensive side of the ball.
Urbana's offensive consistency. You never know where the production will come from for Urbana. They are that talented on offense, and the depth is there. At times, however, the offense can have spurts, disappearing for multiple innings at a time. We saw it against Broadneck when they exploded for five runs early, and then Broadneck went to the bullpen, followed by Urbana's offense failing to put the game out of reach, only notching two hits the rest of the game. They've been able to gain massive leads before facing significant velo. In this one, the velocity will be thrown straight in their face early.
Dulaney needs to score early. If this turns into a battle of the bullpens, Dulaney is at a disadvantage. Kiegan Rupinta and Landon Lee, among others, have been lights out in the second half of the spring and have translated over to the playoffs. They can throw so many different looks and play to their advantage in matchups, so Dulaney needs to strike when they know what to expect. Dulaney has depth on offense as well, but they don't want to be in a situation late where they need multiple runs off a top bullpen arm.
Dulaney's offense... knocking on the door. It feels like any minute this Dulaney offense can surprise the rest of the state and explode; we just haven't quite seen it in the playoffs against quality competition. Drew Ranck certainly has, but if Matthew Rich, Gabriel Darraj, James Bowman, Carter Frick, and Logan Park can perform when the lights are brightest, Dulaney could come out swinging and put the Hawks on their heels.

State Championship Schedule

Monday, May 25th

Class 1A: #1 Patterson Mill vs #3 Liberty (10:00 am)
Class 3A: #1 Stephen Decatur vs #2 Sherwood (12:30 pm)

Class 2A: #2 Hereford vs #5 Kent Island (3:30 pm)
Class 4A: #2 Dulaney vs #4 Urbana (6:30 pm)

* All games will be played at Ripken Stadium in Aberdeen, MD. Tickets are only available ONLINE at GoFan. *